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The new Ford B-MAX, revealed today at
the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, features a winning combination of unique
design, unrivalled economy and what is among the most advanced small car
technology in Europe.
The B-MAX’s Ford Easy Access Door
System provides unobstructed entry and exit with hinged front doors and
sliding rear doors integrating the central body pillars.
The new model also achieves
class-leading fuel economy and the lowest CO2 emissions for
both petrol and diesel engines.
The innovative new B-MAX is the first
European car to offer SYNC, Ford’s voice-activated, in-car connectivity
system featuring Emergency Assistance, which is designed to assist
occupants to place a call to the emergency services in the event of a
crash.
It is also the first vehicle in its
segment to provide the added reassurance of the Active City Stop system,
designed to help motorists avoid low speed collisions with stationary or
slower moving traffic in front.
“The Ford B-MAX really challenges
traditional small car thinking, and pioneers a concept not attempted by
any other manufacturers,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of
Europe. "Its ingenious design opens the doors – quite literally – to
exciting new ideas about what's possible with a compact vehicle.
“But this is more than just a smart and
versatile small car,” he added. “The latest Ford technologies mean the
B-MAX is more fun to drive, offers enhanced safety and achieves
class-leading fuel economy. It does things which other vehicles simply
cannot do. We believe the Ford B-MAX will have a major impact on the
market for compact cars.”
Unique Ford Easy Access Door
System
The unique Ford Easy Access Door System delivers new levels of
convenience, access and flexibility. It features conventional, hinged
front doors and rear sliding doors, combined in a new body design. This
integrates the traditional central pillar structure into the front and
rear doors, rather than forming part of the bodyshell itself.
When both front and rear doors are open
there is outstanding access to the interior, with a huge, clear aperture
more than 1.5 metres wide. This is around twice the width offered by
competitors with alternative door concepts and makes it significantly
easier to enter or exit the rear seats, attend to children in child
seats, or load and unload shopping2.
B-MAX’s twin sliding rear doors also
offer added benefits in crowded streets or narrow parking bays when
access via hinged doors could be awkward. The front and rear doors can
be opened completely independently, so the front or rear cabin can be
accessed as required.
Best-in-class fuel economy for
petrol and diesel
The B-MAX brings new standards of fuel efficiency to the compact MAV
class with Ford’s latest petrol and diesel powertrains equipped with
low-CO2 ECOnetic Technologies.
The petrol engine line-up is led by the
three-cylinder 1.0-litre Ford EcoBoost petrol engine, available in 100PS
and 120PS versions. Equipped with the Ford Auto-Start-Stop system as
standard, the 120PS EcoBoost engine achieves class-leading CO2
emissions of 114g/km and fuel consumption of 4.9l/100km (57.6mpg). Other
petrol engine options include the 90PS 1.4-litre Duratec unit, or the
105PS 1.6-litre Duratec engine which is paired with Ford’s
high-efficiency PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission with
advanced dual clutch technology.
B-MAX is available with a choice of two
Duratorq TDCi diesel engines; each offering best-in-class fuel
efficiency. The 95PS 1.6-litre engine delivers CO2 emissions
of 104g/km and fuel consumption of 4.0l/100km (70.6mpg). The 75PS
1.5-litre diesel, closely derived from the 1.6-litre engine, appears for
the first time in Ford’s European product range. It achieves CO2
emissions of 109g/km and fuel consumption of 4.1l/100km (68.9mpg).
ECOnetic Technologies fitted as
standard to all B-MAX vehicles include Electric Power Assisted Steering,
which requires less energy than hydraulic power assisted steering
systems, Gear Shift Indicator to highlight the most efficient gear
changing points, and the Ford Eco Mode driver information system which
helps drivers adopt a more economical driving style. Smart Regenerative
Charging, which charges the battery at the most economical point in a
journey, is also featured on the 1.0-litre EcoBoost and 1.5/1.6-litre
Duratorq engines.
Ford B-MAX fuel economy comparisons
against selected competition:
PETROL MODELS (>100PS):
| MODEL |
CO2
(g/km) |
FUEL
CONSUMPTION
(l/100km) |
| Ford
B-MAX 1.0 EcoBoost S/S (120PS) |
114 |
4.9 |
| Opel Meriva 1.4
ecoFLEX S/S (120PS) |
134 |
5.7 |
| Citroen C3
Picasso 1.6 VTi 120 (120PS) |
149 |
6.4 |
| Renault Grand
Modus 1.2 TCe 100 (103PS) |
139 |
6.0 |
DIESEL MODELS (>85PS):
| MODEL |
CO2
(g/km) |
FUEL
CONSUMPTION
(l/100km) |
| Ford
B-MAX 1.6 TDCi (95PS) |
104 |
4.0 |
| Opel Meriva 1.3
CDTi ecoFLEX S/S (95PS) |
109 |
4.1 |
| Citroen C3
Picasso 1.6 HDi 90 (92PS) |
119 |
4.6 |
| Renault Grand
Modus 1.5 dCi 90 eco2 (88PS) |
107 |
4.1 |
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